Imagine this scenario: for the first time in its history, a family business is considering appointing a non-family CEO. An initial question might be: Is the family ready for this next stage? But this question might be too broad. Owners may agree that they want to keep the company in the family for generations, yet […]
Power, leadership, management or culture: not every tool works for every problem
Last week we examined the foundations of the four rooms model in family business and why addressing a specific issue in the right room is so essential. In today’s installment, we’ll add another layer to this framework: the valuable tools proposed by the renowned scholar Clayton Christensen. Christensen’s diagnostic starts with two key questions Finding […]
Four rooms, four matrices: choosing the right tools for change in family business
Family businesses are rarely at a loss for tools. They can establish a board of directors, redesign incentives, bring in an outside CEO, draft a family protocol, convene a family council or call in a mediator. The real challenge lies elsewhere: how do you know which tool to use, where to use it and when? […]